Football
Liam Twomey, Chelsea correspondent 7y

Willian: Signing for Chelsea after Tottenham snub was 'best moment in my life'

Willian insists he has no regrets over turning down Tottenham Hotspur to sign for Chelsea and says he considers moving to Stamford Bridge the best moment in his life.

Spurs had agreed a deal to sign Willian from Anzhi Makhachkala in August 2013 and flew the Brazilian to London to undergo a medical, but a last-ditch intervention from Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and Jose Mourinho convinced him instead to move to west London.

Willian's sudden change of heart infuriated Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and added more acrimony to the long-standing rivalry between the two clubs, but the 28-year-old is adamant that he made the right decision.

"I don't know how I can explain that moment," he said in an interview on Chelsea's official YouTube channel. "But it was the best moment I think in my life when I signed with Chelsea because it was my dream to come here.

"[From the moment] I came I am very, very happy to play for Chelsea, to win titles here, so I am very, very happy.

"Yes, it was difficult [to turn down Tottenham]. But I didn't sign. When at the last moment Chelsea called me, I said 'I'm sorry but I go to Chelsea, that's my dream. I have to go there, I don't care. I go there.'"

Willian has made 151 appearances and scored 22 goals for Chelsea in all competitions since moving to Stamford Bridge, winning the Premier League title and League Cup in the 2014-15 season.

In recent weeks the Brazilian has been displaced by Pedro in the Chelsea starting XI, having been granted compassionate leave to attend the funeral of his mother, who passed away during the October international break.

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